A Teenager’s Guide to ADHD
This booklet is for teenagers who have ADHD or for anyone else who knows a teenager with ADHD. It will help you to learn more about what ADHD is, how it can affect us, and ways that we can achieve our potential and thrive.
Written by Colin Foley
Introduction
Have you been told that ADHD is simply about being forgetful, disorganised, hyperactive or impulsive? There is so much more to ADHD than many people realise. Often young people with ADHD will say that they feel misunderstood, especially in school. Do you feel you are constantly being told you are not trying hard enough? That you are not listening?
Why so negative?
There are many intelligent, talented and successful people with ADHD, - you will find out about some of them in this booklet. Too often ADHD is described in a negative way, emphasising what you cannot do rather than what you can do?
Teenagers with ADHD are described as being hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive. What do these words actually mean? Should they always be seen as difficulties or can they also be positive qualities? Simply looking again at the language we use to describe ADHD can help us to understand our unique, amazing brain and seeing it for what it is, a different way of experiencing the world.
The journey ahead
This is the start of an exciting journey for you as you learn more about yourself, what is important to you and what you are good at. This booklet has been created with contributions from other young people and adults with ADHD. We hope you enjoy reading it, and more importantly, grow in confidence as a teenager with ADHD.